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The Markuszewski family was a family from the Lewart or leopard Clan, ennobled in the mid thirteenth century. The title of Count was adopted in the post partition era, due to the status of the family with property holdings and land being on the scale of an English county (or 'Earldom'). The title was legally ratified during this period by the other noble families of Poland. The Markuszewski's land was mainly in the area of Novogrudek.
World War I, The Polish-Russian War and World War II took Its toll on the family with them being almost wiped out, leaving only one surviving heir to the title, Countess Irena Markuszewski, the daughter of Countess Sophia Tracewskia and Count Leon Markuszewski, a reserve Forward Observation Officer in the 18 Light Artillery Regiment (part of the "Narew" Independent Operational Group), who was murdered, because of his noble background in the Katyn massacre.
The title is hereditary. The last Holder of the Title was Countess Irena Markuszewska.